Starter switch



June 1942- c. CHIRELSTEIN STARTER SWITCH F Filed July 23, 1941 Glades mire-blah,

ATTORNZ'X Patented J une 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STARTER SWITCH Charles Chirelsteln, Newark, N. J. Application July 23,1941, Serial N0. 403,655 3 Claims. (or. 200-422) The invention here disclosed relates to switches for starting gaseous discharge devices.

These switches have been of two types, a thermal relay type in which there is a winding for heating the bimetallic switch element and a glow discharge type in which heating of the bimetal is effected by a glow discharge across the electrodes.

The first mentioned type of starter switch requires a four terminal base, two of the terminals to carry current to the heating coil. The second form or so-called glow switch requires only two terminals.

These switches areusable more or less interchangeably-that is, a glow switch may be used in place of a thermal relay if provision is made for closing the heater circuit.

To take care of this requirement, sockets for the four pole thermal relays have been supplied with a loose jumper which would be cut out of circuit when a four pole thermal relay switch was inserted in the socket and which would cross connect the two heater contacts if a two pole glow switch were inserted in the socket.

These jumper contacts are small pieces loosely seated in the sockets and quite frequently are omitted or lost, rendering such thermal relay sockets inoperative for the two pole, glow switches.

Objects of the present invention are to construct glow switches so that they may be used in the thermal relay switch sockets, irrespective of whether or not such sockets are equipped with the special jumper contacts described and to accomplish this without adding appreciably or objectionably to the cost or to difficulties of manufacturing the glow switches.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following specification, defining and broadly claiming the invention.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates one practical commercial embodiment of the invention. The structure however may be modified and changed as regards the present illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views of a glow switch construction embodying the invention, these views being taken on planes at right angles to each other, Fig. 1 as on the plane of line l-l of Fig. 3 and Fig. 2 as on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch.

The switch make and break mechanism is indicated as like that in copending patent application Ser. No. 393,611 filed May 15, 1941, comprising a bowed bimetallic element 5, cooperable with a fixed element 6, these two contacts being sealed within a gaseous container 1, and having external connections 8, 9, extending to oppositely disposed terminal pins III, II, on an insulating base I2.

A condenser I3, is shown having connections I4, I5, extended respectively to the same terminals III, II.

These constitute the usual connections and terminals necessary for glow switch operation.

Mounted on the insulating base I2, in quadrilateral relation with the terminals III, II, is an extra pair of terminals l6, l1, and these four terminals are constructed and positioned like those on the thermal relay switches, so as to be usable in the same sockets. Thus the first pair of contacts I0, I I, are shown as having enlarged heads I8, to pass through and interlock in the keyhole form of slots provided in the socket and the other contacts I6, H, are shown as plain cylindrical pins just to enter the recesses in the socket and engage the contacts located therein.

The special feature of the secondary contacts IG, I1, is that they are connected by a permanent form of connection I9, shown as a short wire soldered or otherwise secured to said contacts and extending diametrically across the upper face of the insulating disc I2.

The wire I9, thus serves as a connection which will short circuit the terminal pins I6, I1, and consequently the contacts which such pins engage, when the switch is entered in a four contact thermal relay socket and this irrespective of whether or not the loose jumper with which those sockets are ordinarily equipped is actually in place.

The connection I9, is located above the base and hence is hidden within the case or so-called can 20, where it is concealed, protected and guarded against being removed or tampered with.

The can is shown as secured over the base by lugs 2 I bent inwardly through notches 22, in the edges of the base and while ordinarily suflicient, this connection, if desired, can be made more permanent in character.

The provision of the glow switch with four terminal pins, corresponding to the four pins used on thermal relays and the cross connection of the two extra or dummy pins IE, IT, not essential to the glow switch operation, enables the device to be used in the same sockets and to serve the same purposes as thermal relay switches.

What is claimed is:

1. A glow switch having a bimetallic element heated by glow discharge and having an insulating base with terminal pins engageable with two of the contacts of a four pole thermal relay switch socket and two additional terminal pins on said insulating base located to engage the two other contacts of such a socket and a permanent electrical connection between said two additional terminal pins.

2. A glow switch for operation in a four pole thermal relay switch socket and comprising an insulating base, four terminal pins projecting from said base for cooperation with the usual tour contacts of such a four pole socket, cooperable switch contacts mounted on said insulating base and including a bimetallic element heated by glow discharge, connections from said switch elements to two opposed terminal pins on the base and a permanent electrical connection across the other two opposed terminals on said base.

3. A glow switch for operation in a four pole thermal relay switch socket and comprising an insulating base, four terminal pins projecting from said base for cooperation with the usual four contacts of such a four pole socket, cooperable switch contacts mounted on said insulating 

